State News Roundup

Gov. L. Douglas Wilder of Virginia has proposed that the state's
schools adopt a year-round school calendar by the year 2000.

Under the proposal, announced by the Governor at the state PTA
convention late last month, students would attend school 200 days a
year instead of the current 180. Estimates of how much it would cost to
add the 20 days to the calendar run as high as $500 million.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Joseph A. Spagnolo Jr. and
Education Secretary James W. Dyke Jr. defended the proposal before the
state board of education last week.

The board took no formal action, however, and probably does not plan
to do so, a board spokesman said.

Any state efforts at year-round schooling would probably be done on
a pilot basis in 1993 under a "world-class education program" passed by
the state beard this year. Under the program, up to 15 schools or
districts can apply for funding to pursue innovative ideas, one of
which could be an extended school day or year, the spokesman said.

The effort depends on whether the General Assembly will approve
funding during its next term beginning in January. .

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